McCoy wins support for legislation
boosting work toward ‘Energy Freedom’

Lawmaker strives to promote efficiency, innovation in the marketplace

March 6, 2009

OLYMPIA – The wind was at state Rep. John McCoy’s back this evening (Friday, March 6, 2009) as the Snohomish County lawmaker won full House of Representatives support for his mission to bolster the development of alternative energy.

By a vote of 88-7, the House passed McCoy’s measure (House Bill 2289) that will expand the state’s Energy Freedom Program and “promote, develop, and encourage energy-efficiency, renewable energy, and innovative-energy technology markets in our state.

“We need to increase access and make it possible for forward-thinking people with the vision and the technological know-how to successfully move alternative-energy projects from the drawing board to the marketplace,” said McCoy, D-Tulalip.

“This legislation will help reduce our reliance on carbon and fuel-based products,” he emphasized. “We need to make changes in the Energy Freedom Account in order to obtain federal money for more energy-efficiency programs that get products online faster.

“Even as we speak, there are folks out there chomping at the bit to get started on projects involving alternative and renewable-energy sources – including solar, wind, wave, tidal, geothermal, wastewater, anaerobic, and biomass,” said McCoy, who chairs the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee that has debated a number of energy bills the past several years.

“There are strategies for reducing consumption through innovations such as smart grids and smart metering, for example,” noted McCoy.

Under terms of his measure, the state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development could award grants or loans to an applicant if:

* The project or program will result in increased access for public, state and local governments, and businesses to energy-efficiency improvements, renewable-energy improvements, or innovative-energy technologies.

* The project or program demonstrates technical feasibility and directly assists in moving a commercially viable project into the marketplace.

* The project or program doesn’t require continued state support, or the federal government has provided funds with a limited time frame for use for energy independence and security, energy efficiency, renewable energy, innovative-energy technologies, or conservation.

The Energy Freedom Program was set up in 2006. Right now, the Energy Freedom Account is available in the state Department of Agriculture to help finance development of a viable biofuel industry. McCoy said the goals of the program and the account include:

* Promoting public research and development in biofuel sources and markets.

* Supporting a strong biofuel-crop sector in the agricultural industry.

Having won House approval, McCoy’s legislation now goes over to the Senate for more discussion.